SEALY, TX (07/07/2016) — Leah Bollock suffered critical injuries, and her daughter Bre’in Bollock died, after a partial bridge collapse that occurred on Thursday.
According to police, 12-year-old Bre’in Bollock was killed, and her mother, 35-year-old Leah Bollock, remains hospitalized after a bridge collapse caused by another driver on Highway 36 at the Highway 90 overpass in Sealy, Texas.
Authorities reported that 72-year-old Carl Weige was driving a Texas Disposal Systems, Inc. 18-wheeler with the boom still raised after he had delivered a dumpster. The boom of the 18-wheeler struck the bridge—despite previously striking the warning device, which alerts drivers that they may strike the bridge.
“There is a wire that is suspended across the street with metal tubes or cylinders that hang down… There’s a huge sign that says if you hit this, you are going to hit the bridge,” said Sealy Police Chief Chris Noble.
According to Noble, the impact was hard enough to knock off a portion of the bridge and dislodge a steel beam. When police arrived on scene, they reported that the truck’s “boom indicator” light was still buzzing and illuminated
Part of the concrete overpass fell onto the Bollock family’s vehicle. 12-year-old Brien Bollock, who was riding in the front passenger seat, was killed instantly. Leah Bollock was flown to Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital with a chest injury; her injuries are critical, but non-life-threatening. Leah’s 9-year-old child, Breandon Gardner, managed to escape the wreckage from the back seat. The Bollocks are reportedly from El Campo, Texas.
Weige was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Katy, Texas, where he is being tested for drugs and/or alcohol.
This is not the first incident where this bridge has been struck, however, it is the first time it involved a partial collapse. Prior to this accident, the state had planned on replacing the bridge in 2017.
Commentary
Police have not stated whether or not charges will be filed against the driver who initially struck the bridge, but say they are now treating the accident as a homicide investigation. If additional information is released regarding this accident, we will provide an update.
We offer our condolences to those affected by this tragic event.
